Preview

July 29, Kyiv, Livyi Bereh 17:00
Live broadcast will be available on MEGOGO, Kyivstar TV, Setanta Sports, Volia TV, Sweet.tv, OmegaTV

Match build-up

Shakhtar will start the season as the current UPL champions and with a new head coach. In the summer, the position of the head coach of the Miners was taken by Patrick van Leeuwen, Shakhtar held a three-week training camp in the Netherlands under his guidance. During the pre-season, there were also changes in the line-up: Oleksii Shevchenko, Bohdan Mykhailichenko, Neven Djurasek and Lucas Taylor left the team, and club legend Andrii Piatov retired and joined the coaching staff. Instead, the Orange-and-Blacks signed two Brazilian players – defender Pedrinho and winger Newerton, Ecuadorian Denil Castillo joined the team, Oleksii Kashchuk and Bohdan Viunnyk returned from loan.

It should be noted that goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin, defenders Yaroslav Rakitskyi and Viktor Korniienko and midfielder Yehor Nazaryna will skip the match against Kharkiv team due to suspension.

Opponents

Metalist 1925 finished the last UPL campaign in 12th spot, keeping their place in the elite for their third season. In the summer, the team coached by Edmar played 4 friendly matches against Ukrainian opponents: they beat Chaika (2-0) and Ahrobiznes (1-0) and lost to Veres (0-1) and Rukh (0-2). During the pre-season, Kharkiv team were strengthened by loaned Brazilian winger Ari Moura and former player of Chornomorets Dmytro Yusov, and the key acquisition was the transfer of one of the top goalscorers of the First League, 22-year-old forward of Metalurh Zaporizhzhia Oleksii Sydorov. It should be added that the anchorman of the Blue-and-Yellows Artem Habelok will skip the game against the Miners due to excess of cards.

Match background

Shakhtar and Metalist 1925 played 3 matches within the UPL: The Orange-and-Blacks won 2 times, 1 match ended in a draw. The total goal difference – 9-0 in favour of Shakhtar.

Previous match

On March 5, 2023, Shakhtar and Metalist 1925 met at Arena Lviv. The Miners started the match powerfully and scored 4 goals already in the first half: Oleksandr Zubkov netted a brace, Bohdan Mykhailichenko and Lassina Traore scored a goal each. After the break, the pattern of play did not change, and an own goal by Kurylo from Kharkiv team and well-placed shots by Ivan Petriak and Yaroslav Rakitskyi set the final score. 7-0 – confident victory of Shakhtar.

Metalist 1925 vs Shakhtar match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Vitalii Romanov. Assistants – Oleksandr Berkut and Volodymyr Vysotskyi. VAR system will be used during the game (Andrii Kovalenko will be the referee).